Hair curler



y 1940. B. BLACK 2,200,590

HAIR CURLER Filed Nov. 17, 1939 Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

This invention relates to devices such as hair curlers.

One object of the invention is to provide a device having improved means for clamping and curling a hair curl after formation thereof by the device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a jaw-type hair curler having removably mounted means for the clamping and withdrawal of a curl of hair, constructed so as to maintain the curl in tensioned and accurately formed condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device having such improved removably mounted means in the form of a sheet material structure comprising a relatively rotatable sleeve and 2. preferably integral spring clamp, with one jaw slotted to avoid obstruction of the spring catch with the jaws in moving the spring to clamping position while the sleeve is mounted on the slotted jaw of the device. 7

Another object of the invention is to furnish a one piece hair curl clamp comprising a tube and strip spring integrally connected at one end of the tube and having a releasable integral catch at its other end for engaging in the corresponding end of the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair curler device having pivotal jaws one of which is slotted and carries a removable rotary tube having a spring clamp connected to the end of the tube remote from the pivot of the jaws, the slot permitting a catch on the free end of the. spring clamp to easily engage in said tube when the catch is in the plane of the slot to permit removal of the tube with the catch in engaged position, and improved means coacting with the parts mentioned for causing alinement' of the catch with said slot to facilitate the engagement of the catch with the tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned having relatively few and simple parts and which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, compact and convenient, durable, and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view in closed position showing a hair curler embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are sectional views taken on the respective lines 3-3, i i, and 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the device in fully open position.

7 is a side View of the removed curl clamp in closed position.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the curler with the clamp part removed.

Fig. 9 is a view in open position of a modified device.

Fig. 10 is a section on line ill-40 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional fragmentary view showing another modification.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of the same showing the clamp swiveled to a different position.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fi 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on line i i-i4 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a modified clamping device.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing the coordination thereof with any jaw device herein shown. 7

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will. be obvious to those skilled in the art tc which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing-the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l5 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same includes a rotary curler part which may include a plurality of jaws [6, ll, pivotally interconnected at I8 and providing finger piece portions I9, 20 between which is seated a U-shaped strip spring 2| expansible for moving the jaws toward each other. Upon the jaw it there may be rotatably mounted a curler device so that it can be held in the hand while the jaw structure it, I! is rotated with the curler device acting as a bearing. 55

As thus far described, the structure is conventional.

According to the invention, the jaw I6 is formed as a grooved element, and it may consist of a tube having a slot 22 extending from the free end of the jaw to a point 23 at which the tube is circular in cross section, for reenforcement, being cut away in part at its other end to form the finger piece 2!). The other jaw H is of generally are shape in cross section and is formed with opposite ears for the pivot pin H! which extends through the tubular part of the jaw I6.

The companion part 24 of the hair curler includes a tube 25 having a strip element or spring 26 connected at one end 2'1 to the tube and having at its other end a catch 28 adapted to releasably snap into the adjacent end of the tube. The part 24 may be made as a one piece sheet material structure, with the material folded to provide a tube which is thus longitudinally split as at 29 at the side thereof facing the spring 26, and the latter being integrally struck out of said sheet material for the integral connection at 21. The tube 25 may have perforations (not shown) to facilitate drying of the hair.

The jaw I6 is inserted into the tube 25 which acts as a bearing for rotation of the jaws l5, IT, with the clamp 26 in open position. Upon pressing the clamp element 26 downwardly, the catch 28 passes through the groove or slot 22 to snap into engagement with the adjacent edge of the tube 25. Now the jaw l6 may be withdrawn with the catch 28 in closed position riding in the slot 22 until the jaw l5 has been completely removed.

To assure easy alinement of the catch 28 with the slot 22, the tube 25 may be provided with a tit 38 projecting releasably into a corresponding shallow recessed portion 3! of the jaw I 6 as shown in Fig. 6. When the operator feels the engagement or hears the click, she knows that the desired alinement has occurred. Any forcible turning will release the projection 30.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is shown a modification 32 which is generally like the device l5, except that the slotted jaw lfia externally engages around the tube 25a so that the latter acts as a shaft and the jaw [6a as a bearing. The operation of the spring and catch elements 26, 28 is the same as before. This device 32 is not as desirable as the device l5 because the hair is curled around the jaw I6a instead of directly on the tube 25a. Hence when the curl is withdrawn onto the tube 25a, it loses desirable tension because the tube 25a is substantially smaller in diameter than the jaw [6a.

In Figs. 11 to 14 is shown a modification 33, which permits alinement of the catch 28 with the slot 22 at all points of turning of the jaws so that the clamping spring 26 can be applied as closely to the scalp as possible. Accordingly, the detent such as 30, 3! of Fig. 6 may be omitted.

In principle, one jaw of the device 33 is journaled on the other jaw which is inserted into the tube of the clamp 24, and a projection on the tube 25 engages in the slot 22 to prevent rotation of the slotted jaw. For example, the tube 251) may have free end portions at 34 bent into the slot 22 for guiding engagement therein, as indicated in Fig. 13, but this will not prevent the engagement by the catch 28 as hereinbefore described.

The slottcd jaw lGb may have a tubular part, shown in Fig. 14, which is annularly recessed at to form a bearing. Engaged in this hearing is a ring or collar 36 which is thus held against removal. Fixed to this collar is a finger piece 31 which thus extends beyond the adjacent end of the jaw lGb. Pivotally mounted on the collar 36 at 38 is the jaw l'lb affording a finger piece 39. Thus while the jaw ilb is rotatable about the jaw iGb, the fingers 37, 39 are always in operative alinement and may be spring pressed apart by the U-spring 2!. Since the projection 34 is at the mouth of the tube 252) the sleeve jaw I612 is instantly easily alined for operation of its slot 22, irrespective of the angular position of the jaw Elb about the axis of rotation.

In operation, all the hair curlers shown are alike, especially those shown in Figs. 1 and 12. A strand of hair is engaged under the external jaw such as H, Ila, or lit, and the tube such as 25, 25a, or 25b held stationary while the jaw structure is revolved to form the curl. Then the spring element 26 is locked to retain the curl and the other jaw such as 16, ifia or I 62; removed, with the catch 28 riding in its adjacent slot and stripping off the curl of hair for tight, reliable retention thereof.

In Figs. 15 and 16 is shown a modified clamping device 40 comprising a pair 01 members 4|, 42 integrally interconnected at one end as by a resilient curved portion 43, and having at the other end interengaging means. The latter include a catch portion or nose piece 44 on the movable arm 42 for releasable snap engagement under the end of the arm 4|, which may be concaved at 45 as shown. Thus the device 40 may be very cheaply struck out of sheet material, with the arm 4| having sufiicient width to adequately carry a curl of hair wrapped therearound. This arm 4! may be regarded as longitudinally ribbed or otherwise reenforced.

According to Fig. 16, the arm 4| is coordinated with a jaw member IE or lfia or lfib so as to properly seat the latter for rotation, as, for instance, with the arm 4! having parallel edges diametrically engaging the interior of the jaw member. Thus the arm is disposed to afford space for engagement of the nose piece 44 under the edge 45 by merely pressing down on the arm 42. In operation, the clamping device 40 functions throughout like the device 24.

I claim:

1. A hair curler comprising a pair of pivotally interconnected jaw members, and a clamping device including a bearing member with which one of the jaw members is remcvably rotatably engaged, and a spring clamping element connected to the bearing member at an end thereof remote from the pivotal axis of the jaw members and being releasably locked with the end of the bearing member nearest to said pivotal axis, the removable jaw member having a longitudinal opening extending substantially throughout the length thereof to permit locking engagement of the spring element and to permit removal of the removable jaw member with the spring element maintained in locked position, the other jaw member serving as a starting clamp for a lock of hair, and the said jaws being rotatable as unit when the clamping element is in open position in course of forming the lock of hair into a curl.

2. A hair curler including a clamping device for holding a curl, comprising a first member and a second member, a first jaw member and a second jaw member, said jaw members being pivotally interconnected, the first jaw member being removably engaged with the first member of the clamping device, the second member of the clamping device being in normally open position and being connected to the first member thereof at a point remote from the pivotal axis and having means for releasable locking engagement with the first member of the clamping de vice adjacent to said pivotal axis, the second jaw member being mounted so as to be revoluble about the first member of the clamping device when the second member thereof is in said open position, the second jaw member serving to clamp the end of a lock of hair against one of said first members to wind said hair into a curl upon revolution of the second jaw member, the first jaw member having a longitudinal opening open at its free end for passage of the said means of the second member of the clamping device into looking position for thecurl of hair and to permit removal of the clamping device with said means maintained in looking position, said longitudinal opening extending substantially throughout the length of the first jaw member.

3. A hair curler according to claim 2, including means for causing, alinement of the slot and said means.

4. A hair curler according to claim 2, wherein said members of the clamping device constitute a one piece structure.

5. A hair curler according to claim 2, wherein the first member of the clamping device consists of a tube formed of sheet metal with the second member thereof being integral with said tube and the said means consisting of a resilient tongue engageable in said tube.

6. A hair curler according to claim 2, wherein said means of the second member of the clamping device consists of a spring tongue and the first member thereof is of relatively uniform outside diameter and is formed at one end with an opening in which said spring tongue releasably engages.

7. A haircurler according to claim 2, wherein the first jaw member is journaled within the first member of the clamping device.

8. A hair curler according to claim 2, wherein the different first members are rotatably inter engaged about the central axis of one of these members, and releasable detent means is efiective between said first members to indicate when no said locking means is in alinement with the longitudinal opening of the first jaw member.

9. A hair curler according to claim 2, wherein the first jaw member is rotatably sleeved around 'the first member of the clamping device.

10. A hair curler according to claim 2, wherein means is provided for preventing rotation between the said first members to thus maintain the said locking means in alinement with said longitudinal opening, and means rotatably mounted on the first jaw member pivotally supports the second jaw member.

11. A hair curler according to claim 2, wherein means is provided for preventing rotation between the said first members to thus maintain the said locking means in alinement with said longitudinal opening, and means rotatably mounted on the first jaw member pivotally supports the second jaw member, said second jaw member having a finger piece, said rotatable means providing a companion finger piece to facilitate movement of the second jaw member to open position about its pivotal axis, and resilient means urging the second jaw member toward closed position in proximity to the first jaw member.

12. A hair curler according to claim 2, wherein the first jaw member is journaled within the first member of the clamping device, means being provided for preventing rotation between the said first members to cause the said locking means to be maintained in alinement with the said longitudinal opening, and means being furnished rotatably mounted on the first jaw member for pivotally supporting the second jaw member.

13. A hair curler according to claim 2, wherein the first jaw member is journaled within the first member of the clamping device, means being provided for preventing rotation between the said first members to cause the said locking means to be maintained in alinement with the said longitudinal opening, said last mentioned means being located at that end of the first member of the clamping device nearest to said pivotal axis and projecting into saidlongitudinal opening, and means for rotatably mounting the second jaw member on the first jaw member to permit the said pivotal movement of the second jaw member in different positions.

14. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said bearing member consists of a tube in which the removable jaw member is journaled.

15. A hair curler according to claim 1, wherein said bearing member consists of a tube in which the removable jaw member is journaled, said spring clamping element being permanently connected to said tube.

16. A hair curler according to claim 1, where in said bearing member consists of a tube in which the removable jaw member is journaled, said tube being of sheet metal and the spring clamping element being integrallyconnected to said tube.

1'7. A hair curler according to claim 2, wherein the first and second members of the clamping device are integrally interconnected and are of relatively plane construction.

18. A hair curler according to claim 2, wherein the first and second members of the clamp ing device are integrally interconnected and are of relatively plane construction, the being of sufficient width to seat along a diametral plane within the first jaw member, and the latter being a tube, whereby the releasable locking means is afforded space for engaging under a free end of said first member within the tube, :1'

at one side of said diameter.

BENJAMIN BLACK.

rst member 

